A Change is Strongly Suggested

[gildhur]

Or hobbits, so far from the Shire.

Sylux is right, though: the attack of the Watcher left no bodies behind. A unique memorial object of some kind would have been less open to interpretation, but sometimes in the Art meetings you need to prioritize assets, and if we can reuse some we're more likely to get others; Moria needed a lot of new art.

MoL

OH! So they're not actually graves at all, just memorial mounds.

[Rrys]

I like the Dwarf Memorial near the Black Pool outside of Moria. While I don't often travel past the graves, I stop and salute everytime I do travel that way!

[Kraggy]

Yessir. We've actually gotten a lot of positive feedback about seeing the graves there, bringing home what the opening of the West-gate cost the dwarves. Having nothing there would lose some of that impact.

MoL

I didn't criticize you for doing it.

Indeed, I found it touching the first time I saw it, I was merely observing a contradiction here, which the 'drowning' explanation makes a good answer to.

[Bard85]

There is of course as a great juxtaposition, the Orce graveyard of Skumfil!

[auximenes]

the attack of the Watcher left no bodies behind.

MoL, do you any idea why the Black Pool is so shallow? Or that there does not appear to be a hole from which the Watcher can swim through back and forth from it's underground lair?

The Black Pool is creepy as it is now, but I think it should have been made deeper.

[Majesto]

I really like having the grave markers out there... enough so that I used it in my last video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvyJNotug0g at 0:29).

It's little touches like this that really suck you into Middle-earth and make you stop and think. I personally find that subtle reminders of past events and achievements are very rewarding.

Keep up the great work, Turbine.

[Kraggy]

I didn't criticize you for doing it.

Actually, on reflection I do.

Seems to me that the dwarves would be far more likely to have erected a cairn to commemorate their lost companions than dug empty graves for them.

[aleczander]

Actually, on reflection I do.

Seems to me that the dwarves would be far more likely to have erected a cairn to commemorate their lost companions than dug empty graves for them.

good point. empty graves symbolizes a tradition that dwarves have never participated in. a cairn would indeed make much more sense

[Dalthalion]

Yessir. We've actually gotten a lot of positive feedback about seeing the graves there, bringing home what the opening of the West-gate cost the dwarves. Having nothing there would lose some of that impact.

MoL

To me, this is just a cop-out. A thousand people saying that something wrong is right doesn't change the fact.

Dwarves are skilled craftsman, especially with stone, and they could have started the base stonework right away and dealt with any detailed carving after interment.

If you just want to leave the graves as-is and stay outside of lore, just say so.

[Dalthalion]

I'd like to point out that these Dwarves were pulled underwater by the Watcher, and at least one was found alive. It is likely the mounds are just there in memory of those Dwarves, not their actual resting places...










Or I could be completely wrong and no drowning took place!

Rea-heh-heh-heally? So, if these are memorials, what are those Dwarf-shaped mounds supposed to be covering? Their favourite teddy bears, perhaps? If there are no bodies, there is no need for mounds. A simple stone memorial by the pool would suffice.

No one’s getting out of the lore-breaking aspect of the set-up without hearing from me. Just giving you fair warning.

[Beorthelion]

Good catch! I agree 130%

[durandir]

Doesn't the Book of Mazarbul mention a dwarf of Balin's expedition being "buried under the grass" near Mirrormere?

[Dalthalion]

You're extrapolating a bit from a smudge. The assumption is present, to be certain, but the text doesn't mention with finality what happened to Flói's remains.

The text you are referring to:

We drove out the orcs from the Great Gate and guardroom and took the First Hall. We slew many in the bright sun in the dale. Flói was killed by an arrow. He slew the great chieftain[...] Flói under grass near Mirrormere [...] came [...]ken we repaired [...] We have taken the Twenty-first Hall of North End to dwell in. There is good air [...] that can easily be watched [...] the shaft is clear [...] Balin has set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul [...] gathered [...] gold [...] wonderful lay Durin's Axe [...] silver helm. Balin has taken them for his own. Balin is now lord of Moria. [Gandalf assumes this is the end of a chapter] [...] today we found truesilver [...] well-forged helm[...]n[...]coat made all of purest mithril [...] Óin to seek for the upper armories of the Third Deep [...] go westwards to s[...] to Hollin gate.